1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN hood open

Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0°F
(- 18 O C) or colder, the
engine coolant heater
can help.
You’ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during
engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be
plugged in a minimum of four hours prior
to starting
your vehicle.
To Use the Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
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/! CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire.
You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet.
If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
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Ventilation Tips
Your vehicle has air outlets in the center and on the sides
of your instrument panel. You can move the outlets from
side to side or up and down to direct the flow of air, or
close the outlets altogether. When you close
an outlet, it
will increase the flow
of air coming out of any outlets
that are open. These outlets do not completely shut off
airflow when in a closed vent position.
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Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction (such as leaves). The heater
and defroster will work far better, reducing the
chance
of fogging the inside of your windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, turn the
blower fan to
HI for a few moments before driving.
This helps clear the intake ducts
of snow and
moisture, and reduces the chance
of fogging the
inside
of your windows.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle.
The use of hood air deflectors may adversely
affect the performance of the heating and air
conditioning system.
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3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory power outlets. Turn
off all lamps
that aren’t needed, and radios. This will avoid sparks
and help save both batteries. And
it could save
your radio!
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the
positive
(+> and negative (-) terminals on each battery.
~ If your vehicle has air conditioning, the auxiliary
electric fan under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from
any underhood electric fan.
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Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use
a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the batteries have enough water.
You
don’t need to add water to the Delco Freedom@
battery (or batteries) installed in every new
GM
vehicle. But if a battery has filler caps, be sure
the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add
water to take care of that first.
If you don’t,
explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you.
If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
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Engine Overheating
(Gasoline Engine)
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel.
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Engine
Overheating” in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even
if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine
is cool.
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If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
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If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 Tow a trailer. See “Driving on Grades” in the Index.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or
so:
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (a)
for automatic transmissions. If you
no longer have
the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can
drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign
of steam, push the accelerator until
the engine speed is about twice as fast as normal idle
speed. Bring the engine speed back to normal idle speed
after two or three minutes. Now see if the warning stops,
But then, if you still have the warning,
turn oflthe
engine
and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
YOU may decide not
to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
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Be sure the posted octane is at least 87. If the octane is
less than
87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at
87 octane or higher and you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating or driving up a hill. That’s normal,
and you don’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have a problem.
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label),
it is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications. If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may
turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs, return to your
authorized GM dealer for diagnosis to determine the
cause of failure. In the event it is determined that the
cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadlenyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT);
ask your service station operator whether or not his fuel
contains
MMT. General Motors does not recommend the
use of such gasolines. If fuels containing MMT are used,
spark plug life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel
may turn on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for service.
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Hood Release
To open the hood,
first pull the handle
inside the vehicle.
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Then go to the front of the vehicle and pull up on the
secondary
hood release, located just to the passenger’s
side
of the center of the grill.
Lift the hood.
If your vehicle has air conditioning, it may have an
auxiliary engine fan in addition to the belt driven fan.
Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are on
properly. Pull down the hood and close it firmly.
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At Least %ice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Wiper Blade Check
Inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking. Replace blade
inserts that appear worn or damaged or that streak or
miss areas of the windshield. Also
see “Wiper Blades,
Cleaning” in the Index.
Air Cleaner Filter Restriction Indicator Check
Your vehicle has an indicator on the engine that lets you
know when the air cleaner filter is dirty and needs to be
changed. Check indicator at least twice a year or when your
oil is changed. See
“Air Cleaner’’ in the Index
for more information. Inspect your air cleaner filter
restriction indicator more often if the vehicle is used in
dusty areas or under
off road conditions.
Automatic Transmission Check
Check the transmission fluid level; add if needed. See
“Automatic Transmission” in the Index. A fluid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified in Part
D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all fuel door, body hood and body door
hinges, rear compartment hinges, tailgate handle pivot
points, latches, locks and folding seat hardware.
Part D
tells you what to use. More frequent lubrication may be
required when exposed to a corrosive environment.
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